OSHAWA -- There’s been a big improvement in the number of animals being adopted from Oshawa Animal Services, but local animal advocates are hoping more can be done to further reduce euthanasia rates.

According to the quarterly update from Oshawa Animal Services, adoptions were up 38 per cent in the second half of 2013 compared to the same period the previous year. Results were especially good in the third quarter, when 88 animals were adopted.

Recent changes have included the creation of a volunteer program and currently there are 15 trained volunteers who spend time at Oshawa Animal Services. As well, pets available for adoption are featured more prominently on the City’s website with a ‘pet of the week’.

Linda Power, a member of the Oshawa animal rescue community, has long advocated on behalf of animals at community services committee meetings.

“There have been some good changes, but we’re still killing far too many animals,” she said.

She outlined the situation in a letter to the committee, pointing out 483 animals were euthanized in 2013, representing 37.2 per cent of the shelter’s animals. That rate is down from 49.3 per cent in the previous year, but Ms. Power said that ideally Oshawa Animal Services should become a low-kill shelter with a euthanasia rate of one to three per cent.

Councillor Amy England stressed the importance of reducing the number of animals at Oshawa Animal Services and increasing adoptions.

“If they get sick at the shelter then that leads to them being euthanized,” she said.

Animals are generally euthanized due to diseases or injury or because of aggressive behaviour.

In a bid to reduce the population of unwanted animals, especially cats, in Oshawa, City staff is working with community groups to consider the opening of a low-cost, spay-neuter clinic. Staff has proposed locating the clinic in the same building as Oshawa Animal Services on Farewell Street.

The building is currently home to the parks department as well, but that department will likely move to the new consolidated operations centre on Wentworth Street.

Staff, along with members of the animal rescue community, toured the Newmarket low-cost spay and neuter clinic last November and City officials are meeting in March to further discuss the issue with community groups.

Coun. England said she’s hoping that a low-cost spay and neuter clinic working with Oshawa Animal Services will lower the cost for the procedures for the City and thereby reduce adoption fees for the public.

Meanwhile, Oshawa resident Kelli Polsinelli has asked council to consider a bylaw banning the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores in a bid to combat pet overpopulation.

“If your concern is for animal welfare and what’s best for the animals, we want to address the overpopulation first, we don’t want to contribute to it,” she said.

Ms. Polsinelli said there are several reasons for the bylaw. She said research shows many pet stores receive animals from puppy or kitten mills and these animals can be unhealthy and spread disease both to pets and, in some cases, humans.

She also believes that purchasing a pet should not be an impulse decision. As a model, she points to PetSmart, a company that does not sell dogs or cats and instead features animals for adoption.

Families who want to purchase a cat or a dog could still do so through a breeder.

“They can always buy a kitten or puppy if they wish ... but the process is longer and is more thought through,” she said.

Ms. Polsinelli said other municipalities, including Toronto and Vaughan, have passed similar bylaws. The issue has been referred to staff for a report.

For more information about animals available for adoption, visit oshawa.ca and click on the pet of the week.

Reporter Reka Szekely covers the City of Oshawa for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. Reka's social media column appears every other week. Contact her on Facebook, Twitter (@rszekely)